IN Bali feb 9 to feb 18. Just missed the rain although had a couple of late night/early morning thunder showers. Just enough to raise the humidity another notch or two!
Stayed at Rama Beach ( the old Rama Baruna ). Much new work since we were there four years ago. We stayed in one of the pool villas and had a blast. Early morning/late night naked swims were blissful.
Lots of shopping up to Ubud and around Legian. Seemed to be more tourists in Ubud though, as opposed to the Kuta area.
This trip we finally made it to La Lucciola. Love Indonesian food but this was such a treat. Will definitly return next trip. Food was incredible, sunset beautiful and the staff professional and friendly.
Just around the corner from Rama Beach is a restaurant called Ma Joly. Upscale and incredible food as well. Beautiful beach setting although we arrived too late for the sunset. Both nights we had 3-4 cocktails, one or two appetizers, two entrees and at La Lucciola, dessert as well. Both tabs were under 50US$. Would have been two to three times that here in the states.
My husband woke up morning number 5 with a swollen jaw and a sore tooth. We'd had a temporary filling put in prior to leaving for our trip but obviously didn't last. Ended up abscessed and so THANKS so forum-ites I had taken D. I WAYAN PARWATA's contact information. Couldn't get in for two days but did go in and picked up a prescription for an anti-biotic and an anti-inflammitory. The extraction was quite an ordeal due to the tooth being stuck between two others and the abscess. Spent the rest of the day in the hotel and his jaw is still sore. But he is a trooper and will live to have another adventure....just hopefully not of the dental nature.
Spent a lovely day with our driver and his family just sitting and relaxing. Visiting and such with the extended family. The children's English is very good and we always take a collection of our back issues of National Geographics which they just love. Would probably be similar to an american or australian child getting a new playstation. Took frisbees and the kids went wild. Had all the neighborhood children throwing them by the time we left. Got tuition paid for for the next year so that was a very good feeling. Think we get as much out of it as the family does!!!
Had also read on the forum about the Premier Lounge ( now $US20 ) but paid it happily. We got to the airport 2 hours prior to the flight and only took about 20 minutes to get thru check- in and the rest of it. Had enough Bintang that I got the cost down to $US5 a can ( 4 was all I could get down in that time ) but knew it would be the last for awhile. Husband headed right to the scotch. The food was lovely. Got some great photos out on the smoking deck of the Javanese soldiers patroling the airport. Told them to 'look tough' and the one swung his AK-47 around, I nearly fainted!!
Saw a few security people, armed, around Kuta and of course at some of the restaurants and most of the hotels. Never felt in any danger though. And you can be sure that if the Japanese are going there then it's probably safe. We lived in Guam during 9-11 and the Japanese government stopped flights into Guam, which relies heavily on the Japanese tourist. Was quite awhile before their government eased travel restrictions. And even then the tourists barely trickled in. And that was just to Guam, not even mainland US.
Hated to leave and probably won't be back again until next year so will have to live vicariously through all the forum postings!